OSU Institute of Technology was once again recognized repeatedly at the 23rd Oklahoma Colleges Public Relations Association Annual Conference earlier this month.

At the awards banquet held July 13 in Sulphur, OSUIT’s Office of Marketing and Communications and School of Visual Communications took home eight awards. Luke Braswell, a School of Visual Communications alumnus, was also recognized for his work with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

“To be recognized among your peers is a tremendous honor. OSUIT is proud to be associated with an organization that rewards and promotes the talent in university creative departments, especially in-house marketing teams,” said Shari Erwin, director of Marketing and Communications.

High Voltage Heroes, a video highlighting the High Voltage program and its students, took first place in the Video Feature category. The Learn by Doing radio commercial written by Erwin won third place in the Radio Spot category.

OSUIT President Bill R. Path took the third place plaque for his Huffington Post blog entry “Desktop Blues: Rethinking the Middle Class” in the Blog/Editorial category.

Graphic Designer Kim Woodard won the first place plaque in the Large Brochure category for the Employers Resource for Hiring Veterans. Woodard and Dr. Ina Agnew also took first place in the Before & After category for a Sponsorship Guide.

Publications Coordinator Sara Plummer won third place in the newsletter category for The Circuit, OSUIT’s weekly e-newsletter. Plummer also earned an Honorable Mention award in the News Writing category for a story about 3D Printing featured in STATE Magazine, and in the Featurette category for the story of OSUIT alumna Chef Jennifer Hill Booker and her first published cookbook.

Luke Braswell, a recent graduate of the School of Visual Communications, was honored with two first place, three second place, and three third place wins for his work with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

The eight awards are the most ever won by OSUIT at an OCPRA conference.

And the university’s entries faced some stiff competition.

Forty-four Oklahoma colleges and universities submitted more than 550 entries at this year’s contest, which awarded 148 winners.

OCPRA President Karen Kelly said this year’s entries were judged by impartial representatives from the College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals, a sister organization serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

“We take great pride in our OCPRA awards competition. Not only is it a great way to showcase creative talent from our Oklahoma institutions of higher education, it also affords us the opportunity to celebrate one another,” Kelly said.

OCPRA Awards won by OSUIT staff

1st Place Video Feature: High Voltage Heroes, School of Visual Communications

1st Place Large Brochure: Kim Woodard, Employers Resource for Hiring Veterans

1st Place Before & After: Kim Woodard & Dr. Ina Agnew, Sponsorship Guide

3rd Place Radio Spot: Shari Erwin, Learn by Doing

3rd Place Newsletter: Sara Plummer, The Circuit

3rd Place Blog/Editorial: Dr. Bill R. Path, Desktop Blues: Rethinking the Middle Class

Honorable Mention News Writing: Sara Plummer, 3D Printing in STATE Magazine

Honorable Mention Featurette: Sara Plummer, Alum Shares Love of Southern & French Cuisine in Cookbook

Luke Braswell, School of Visual Communications graduate, for the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

1st & 3rd Place: Traditional Photography

1st & 2nd Place: Cover Design

2nd Place: Digitally Enhanced Photography

2nd Place: Magazine

3rd Place: Print Advertising

3rd Place: Campaigns